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Talking to the Bereaved – A Vital Step To Stop Ebola

My role in Monrovia is to help the Liberian National Red Cross Society establish a beneficiary communication and community engagement programme as part of their Ebola response. The Liberian Red Cross has been working hard to engage communities here. It is not an easy task. There has been general mistrust, misunderstanding and misinformation about Ebola here and, indeed, all over the world.

Safe and Dignified Burials

Perhaps the most visible aspect of Liberian Red Cross’ response to Ebola has been the work done by the Safe and Dignified Burials teams. Because of the way Ebola is transmitted, it is crucial that the remains of those that have died from the disease are disposed of safely. The dead bodies are highly contagious and the teams must wear fully protective clothing when performing their dangerous work. One mistake, especially when removing the protective clothing, can have consequences that could prove fatal.

Talking to the Bereaved

In the mornings, I join the briefing session of the Safe and Dignified Burials teams before they go in the field. As part of the beneficiary communication programme, each team now has a trained community engagement member. Their job is to talk to bereaved families and explain what will happen to the body of their loved one and record details of the deceased – age, gender, symptoms, etc – using a mobile phone app. They also explain how to prevent infection to the wider communities and answer any questions the family may have.

It is often a delicate task – families want to bury their dead but, for a number of reasons, the government has declared that, for the moment, the bodies of all suspected Ebola fatalities must be cremated, a practice that is quite alien to Liberian culture.

“It’s about keeping people safe”

Melvin, one of the Safe and Dignified Burials team members, told me that his wife worries a lot and the risks of his job and that she prays every day for him to come home safely. He acknowledges her fears but believes that the risks are manageable and it’s a job that must be done.

“It’s about keeping people safe and healthy in my country. If we didn’t do this, more people would get sick. I feel a responsibility to do it.”

Unlike Any Other Disaster

Working here is not like any Red Cross job I have done before. Ebola is not something you can see with the naked eye but the means of transmission are well understood, namely through physical contact with the bodily fluids of people visibly sick with Ebola or those that have died from it.

Most of the people infected with Ebola have been caring for people that are already sick with it, be they patients in a clinic or, more commonly, relatives in their home. But that is not part of my job here and there are simple things we all do to reduce the risks further. We avoid touching others, we wash our hands regularly with chlorinated water, and we monitor our temperature daily for any signs of fever. It really is that simple.

Stephen Ryan has been an overseas delegate of Irish Red Cross since 2007, and has previously worked in support of emergency operations across Europe and Asia Pacific.

You can donate to the Irish Red Cross emergency Ebola appeal quickly and safely online www.redcross.ie/donate – Thank you

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The Irish Red Cross is at the forefront of delivering aid to vulnerable people in Ireland and in countries around the world that have been struck by wars or natural disasters.
To be Ireland’s premier community service organization, through the implementation of the Red Cross Charter, preventing and alleviating human suffering, protecting life and health, ensuring respect for the human being by continually delivering a high quality humanitarian service to society at home and abroad. The Irish Red Cross provides care to the most vulnerable at home and abroad in peace, crisis and disaster.
The Irish Red Cross is currently undergoing changes to its corporate governance structure to bring it in line with modern practice. All change will be subject of the agreement of the Government of Ireland and the International Committee of the Red Cross.﻿
The Irish Red Cross is part of the world's largest humanitarian aid organisation The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement with apx. 97 million volunteers in 186 countries. Our Volunteers and staff work in communities all over Ireland and overseas.
If you would like more information about the Irish Red Cross please see http://www.redcross.ie